Gianna Project Celebrates its First Birthday
The Gianna Project, Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds) celebrated its first birthday in April 2012. One year ago, the Trustees of Catholic Care sanctioned the setting up of a new and exciting project to deliver care and support for women who are pregnant. The Gianna Project is essentially about responding to the needs of a unique individual at a challenging time in her life.
The aim of the Gianna Project is to deliver practical help to individual women in a pregnancy situation, e.g. baby equipment / clothes, limited financial aid if necessary, counselling and support. The Gianna Project is open to women of all ages and backgrounds who find themselves worried or isolated when they become pregnant.
Why the Gianna Project?
For many years, the Trustees of Catholic are (Diocese of Leeds) took a keen interest in the workings of the Cardinal inning Project in Scotland. This Project aimed to help women who found themselves pregnant and who felt alone or isolated. After receiving information and help from the Winning Project, the Trustees of Catholic Care set up the Gianna Project in April 2011. The initial months of the Gianna Project were very low key but gradually over time, the work of the Project became known more and more throughout the Diocese of Leeds. A part-time worker was appointed in April 2011 and this work has been undertaken by Eileen Holland from Catholic Care who has made a tremendous contribution in developing and making known the work of the Gianna Project.
What is the origin of the name?
St. Gianna Beretta Molla is a Roman Catholic Saint, canonised on 16th May 2004 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. Gianna was an Italian doctor, wife and loving mother, who experienced life threatening problems when she was pregnant with her fourth child. She gave birth to a healthy baby but Gianna sadly died seven days after the birth. St. Gianna is a Patron Saint of mothers, doctors and unborn children.
Presently, the Project is going from strength to strength and Eileen Holland is currently working with 8 family units across West Yorkshire. Eileen is also opening up new areas of partnership working with other projects in West Yorkshire. Baby clothing and baby equipment, as well as donations are always very welcome and contact can be made with Eileen, Social Worker, at Catholic Care on 0113 3885400. Eileen's email address is eholland@catholic-care.org.uk and she would welcome contact from anyone who requires more information or who would like to help the Project in any way.
Congratulations to the Gianna Project and happy birthday.
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Catholic Care is the social care organisation of the Diocese of Leeds. Catholic Care acts to support all those in need of its services, especially people experiencing disadvantage and poverty, and it acts as an advocate for those unable to represent themselves.
Catholic Care's website offers you the opportunity to find out more about us and our work on behalf of children, families and adults in many communities in the Yorkshire area. We hope you will find it interesting and informative.
Over a hundred years of pioneering social work in relation to child welfare, poverty relief and social reform has developed Catholic Care as one of the leading charities in the North of England, caring for children, older people, disabled and disadvantaged people of all ages. Our work currently ranges from a well respected adoption and family finding service to supported living for people with learning disability, care homes, volunteer work and community projects. Our work is making a real and significant difference to the quality of life of hundreds of people
Catholic Care offers a wide variety of services and support. These include:
Catholic Care acts to support those in need of its services, especiallly the weak and the vunerable and it acts as an advocate for those unable to represent themselves
The primary purpose of the agency is to foster and influence a vision of how people can live together in Christian charity, love and justice, by taking the "Caring Church into the Community
